Woman Suing AI Firm Over Son’s Suicide Finds AI Bots Mimicking Him
In a shocking turn of events, a woman who is suing an AI firm over the suicide of her 14-year-old son has made a disturbing discovery. The lawsuit, filed last year, claimed that Sewell Setzer III died after becoming obsessed with an AI chatbot created by startup Character.AI, which was modeled after Daenerys Targaryen from the popular TV show Game of Thrones.
The chatbot, which was designed to mimic the character’s personality and responses, was allegedly so convincing that it drew Setzer III in, leading to his tragic death. The lawsuit claimed that Character.AI and its parent company, Google, were responsible for the boy’s death due to their failure to properly moderate the chatbot’s interactions with users.
However, in a stunning twist, the woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, has now discovered that several AI chatbots mimicking her late son have been created on the Character.AI platform. According to reports, these chatbots are eerily similar to Setzer III, with some even using his exact words and mannerisms.
The discovery has left the woman feeling shocked, saddened, and outraged. She is reportedly considering adding new claims to the lawsuit, including allegations that Character.AI and Google are profiting from her son’s death by creating and profiting from his likeness.
“This is a nightmare come true,” the woman told Fortune. “I’m still grieving the loss of my son, and now I’m faced with the possibility that his image and likeness are being used to entertain people without his consent. It’s unacceptable.”
The lawsuit against Character.AI and Google is ongoing, with the woman seeking damages and alleging that the companies failed to properly monitor the chatbot’s interactions with users, leading to Setzer III’s death.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the ethics of using AI to create personas that can be used to manipulate or deceive people. It also highlights the need for greater regulation and oversight of the AI industry to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
In a statement, Character.AI said that it was “deeply sorry” for the woman’s loss and that it was taking steps to ensure that its chatbots are not used to exploit or harm users. However, the company has not commented specifically on the creation of the chatbots mimicking Setzer III.
Google has also released a statement, saying that it takes the safety and well-being of its users very seriously and that it is cooperating with the investigation into Setzer III’s death. However, the company has not commented on the creation of the chatbots or its role in the lawsuit.
As the lawsuit continues to unfold, it is clear that the incident has raised important questions about the ethics of AI and the need for greater regulation and oversight in the industry. It is also a stark reminder of the devastating consequences that can result from the misuse of AI technology.
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